Windshield cleaning system



Dec. 16, 1958 H. c. Rol-IR 2,864,116

wINnsHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1955 /4 ff /o /J o f INVENTOR.

Hfrmrc. noun BY wrNnsHlELD CLEANiNG SYSTEM Henry C. Rohr, Rochester, VN.Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, vMich., acorporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1955, Serial No.490,331

14 claims. (ci. 1s-zs0.4)

This invention pertains to the windshield Washing art, and particularlyto apparatus for discharging a liquid sol- Vent onto a windshield andcoordinating lits operation with that of a windshield wiper.

Heretofore, washer pumps wherein one stroke thereof is effectedmanually, either by the hand or by the Vfoot of an operator, have beendesigned. However, in prior devices of this type, the liquid displacingmember was directly connected to a manually operable control whereby theoperator exerted force against `a substantially incompressible mass dueto the small discharge orifice. Hence, the operator experiencedconsiderable discomfort. The present invention relates to a footoperated Vwasher pump wherein the operator merely Vsupplies energy to anenergy storing device of a resilient nature thereby obviating thediscomfort attendant with prior art pumps of this type. In addition,means are incorporated whereby the windshield wiper, 'or wipers, areactuated concurrently with the washer as well as being automaticallyshut off simultaneously with termination. of washer operation.Accordingly, among my objects are the provision of a pump having a fluiddisplacing member including energy storing means for effecting onestroke thereof in combination with a manually operable member vforstoringienergy in said means; the further provision of a window cleaningsystem including means for coordinating the operation of a washer and awiperyand the still further provision of a pump including meansautomatically operable by the fluid displacing member thereof forinitiating one pump stroke upon completion of the other pump stroke.

The aforementioned and other objects'are accomplished in the presentinvention by interposing `a spring between a manually operable memberand the fluid displacing member of the pump. Specifically, the pumpincludes a exible rubber bulb which constitutes theuid displacingmember, the rubber bulb having -a natural recovery characteristic sothat it will assumeiits normal configuration after being deformed. Thebulb is mounted-in a casing having inlet and outlet check Valves whichvare connected to intake and delivery conduits, respectively. The freeend of the bulb has attached thereto a spring seat having cam meansthereon for releasing a latch.

A second spring seat is connected to one end of a reciprocable shaft,the shaft being slidably vsupported in the casing. A coil spring isVdisposed between the two spring seats, this spring constituting ayielding operative connection between the shaft and the collapsiblebulb, or bellows. The shaft extends through the vehicle firewall and hasa pedal attached thereto. A latch arm is pivotally supported on thecasing and springbiased to an operative position. A wiper actuating'armis also pivotallyV supported on the casing, one end of ya Bowden wirecontrol cable being connected thereto so as'to initiate -and terminateoperation of 'windshield wiper mechanism concurrently with operation ofthe washer.

When the pedal is depressed, the upper spring seat is moved towards thelower spring seat thereby compressing the spring and storingenergytherein. When the spring Uited States Patent O 2,864,116 PatentedDec. 16, 1958 ICC is substantially fully compressed, the upper springseat is latched Vin its lower position by the latch arm. Thereafter, theenergy stored in the spring will collapse the bulb thereby effecting thedelivery stroke of the pump. Upon completion of the delivery stroke, thecam means will release the latch whereby the natural recoverycharacteristic 'of the bulb will cause the shaft, spring, and bulb toassume their normal positions during which, the intake stroke lof thepump is effected. inasmuch as movement of the pedal initiates andterminates operation of the washer, wiper operation will beautornaticall; coordinated therewith.

-Further objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is -a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of a motorvehicle equipped with the window cleaning system of this invention.

Fig. 2-is -a sectional view of the washer pump in the normal positionafter completion of the intake stroke.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the pump after depression of the pedal.

Fig. 4lis a fragmentary sectional view of the pump after substantialcompletion of the delivery stroke.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, the washing apparatus of thisinvention is shown in combination with a vehicle-havinga windshield 1'0,a cowl 11, a firewall 12 and an instrument panel 13. In a conventionalmanner, the Vehicle includes 'wiping mechanism comprising anoscillatable wiper blade 14, which is detachably co'nnected to a wiperarm 15.- The wiper arm 15 is drivingly connected with one end ofan'oscillatable shaft 16 which is rotatably journaled'in a bushing 17and extends through the cowl 11. The shaft 16 is connected through alinkage 18 to electric motor driven actuating mechanism 19 which may beof the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 450,890, ledAugust 19, 1954, in the name-of WalterD. Harrison and assigned to theassignee of-this-invention. Operation of the electric motor drivenwiperactuating mechanism 19 may be controlled by an oscillatable lever20. Initiation and termination of wiper operation maybe effectedautomatically and in coordination with operation of the Washer mechanismof this invention, as will be disclosed more particularly hereinafter.

The washerfmechanism includes a nozzle 23 having a small dischargeorifice through which a spray of liquid solvent is directed into thepath of the moving wiper blade 14. The nozzle 23 is mounted on the cowl11, and the inlet thereof is connected to one end of a conduit 24. Theother-end of theconduit 24 is connected to the discharge port of awasher pump, generally designated by the numeral 25. The washer pump 25is disposed on the engine sideof the firewall 12, and the intake portthereof is connected by a conduit 26 to a reservoir or container 27. Thepump25 is disposed in a casing 28, which is supportedbya bracket-29attached to the rewall 12.

With particular reference to Figs. l and 2, the detailed construction ofthe pump 25 will be described. The liquid displacing member of the pump,as disclosed, com- .prises a flexible rubber bulb, or bellows, 3fthaving .a lnatural recovery characteristic whereby it wiil assume theshape depicted in Fig. 2 under normal conditions. The lower end of thebulb 30 is attached to the casing 28 and has formed therein a dischargeport 31 and an intake port32. The discharge port 31 communicates with afitting 33 having aspring biased, ball type check valve 35 therein. Theintake port 32 communicates with fitting 34 having Ydisposed therein aspring biased ball type check v'alve36. The checkvalves are yarranged ina conventional manner so that upon collapse of the rubber bulb 30, waterwill be discharged through the valve 35 and into the delivery conduit24, while upon expansion of the bulb 30, water will be drawn from thereservoir 27 through intake conduit 26 and the check valve 36. While theliquid displacing member disclosed merely comprises a rubber bulb, it isto be understood that other types f liquid displacing members, such asspring biased pistons and diaphragms are contemplated by the presentinvention, and the use of a rubber bulb is only exemplary.

The upper end of the rubber bulb is closed by a plate 22 and hassuitably connected thereto a spring seat 37 which may be formed integralwith conical cam latch release means 38. A second spring seat 41 isattached to one end of a shaft 43 and adapted for movement between theposition depicted in Fig. 2 and the position depicted in Fig. 3, whereinthe ange of the spring seat 41 is retained by projection 54 of latch arm52. A coiled compression spring 42 is disposed between the two springseats 37 and 41.

The manually operable actuator for the washer pump comprises areciprocable shaft 43 slidably supported by a bushing 44 carried by thecasing 28. The shaft extends through the firewall 12 and is formed witha pedal portion 47, disposed in the passenger compartment of thevehicle.

A wiper actuating arm 60 is pivotally mounted at 61 on the casing 28.The arm 60 is in the form of a bellcrank, one end 62 of which isdisposed between the spring seat 41 and a collar 63. The arm 60 isbiased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by atorsion spring 64. The arm 60 is also connected to one end of a Bowdenwire cable 50, the other end of which is connected to the wiper lever20.

Upon depression of the pedal 47 from the position of Fig. 2 to theposition of Fig. 3, movement will be imparted to the Bowden wire 50 soas to initiate operation of the wiper mechanism 19. Concurrentlytherewith the shaft 43 will move the spring seat 41 downward, therebycompressing spring 42 and storing energy therein. When the spring 42 isfully compressed, as depicted in Fig. 3, the shaft 43 will be maintainedin the position of Fig. 3 by the latch arm 52. The latch arm 52 ispivotally mounted at 53 to the casing 28. An intermediate portion of thelatch arm is formed with a hook 54 adapted to engage the upper surfaceof spring seat 41, as shown in Fig. 3. The latch arm S2 is normallyurged in a clockwise direction about pivot 53 by a spring 55. The otherend 56 of the latch arm 52 is positioned in the path of movement of thecam means 38 so that when the bulb 30 is substantially fully collapsedas shown in Fig. 4, the latch arm 52 will be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction, thereby releasing the shaft 43.

Operation When the operator desires to effect washer operation, thepedal 47 is depressed by the operators foot. By so doing, the operatorcompresses spring 42, thereby storing energy in this spring. Thus, theoperator does not experience any discomfort inasmuch as he does notexert effort against an incompressible medium. Concurrently, withdepression of the pedal 47, the wiper actuator mechanism 19 will beautomatically set into operation through the Bowden wire 50. After thespring 42 is fully compressed, as depicted in Fig. 3, the shaft 43 willbe latched in the lower position and, hence, the operator may remove hisfoot from the pedal 47. Thereafter, the energy stored in spring 42 willcompress the bulb 30 and discharge liquid solvent through the port 31,check valve 35, the conduit 24 and the nozzle 23. Inasmuch as the Wiperblade 14 is moving, the liquid solvent will be spread over the surfaceof the windshield so as to effect cleaning thereof.

When the bulb 30 is substantially fully collapsed, as shown in Fig. 4,the discharge of Water from the nozzle 23 will terminate andconcurrently therewith the latch release cam means 38 will deflect thearm 52, thereby releasing the shaft 43. Accordingly, the shaft 43 willreturn to the position of Fig. 2 due to the natural recoverycharacteristic of the bulb 30. When the shaft 43 returns to the positionof Fig. 2, operation of the wiper will be automatically terminatedthrough operation of the cable 50 by arm 60. During recovery of therubber bulb 30, the intake stroke of the pump will be effected inasmuchas solvent will be drawn through the conduit 26 from the reservoir 27.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention results ina foot operated washer, which may be conveniently coordinated withoperation of wipers. In addition, the only force which must be exertedby the operator is the force required to compress the pump operatingspring. Furthermore, the operator need not exert continuous effort onthe pedal since it is automatically latched upon completion of itsenergy storing movement, and automatically released upon completion ofthe delivery stroke of the pump.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A pump having a fluid displacing elastic bulb with an intake strokeand a delivery stroke, inlet and outlet valves communicating with theinterior of said bulb, power means acting thereon to effect one stroke,said fluid displacing bulb having a natural recovery characteristicwhich effects the other stroke, and power interrupting means movablewith the bulb during said one stroke and operatively connected with saidpower means for rendering said power means inoperative so as to permitthe natural recovery characteristic of said bulb to effect said otherstroke.

2. In a windshield washer, a pump having a displacing member with anintake stroke and a discharge stroke, inlet and outlet valvescommunicating with said pump, a spring normally acting on saiddisplacing member for effecting one stroke thereof, said member having anatural recovery characteristic which is operable to effect the otherstroke, manually operable means enageable with said Spring for storingenergy in said spring so as to effect said one stroke, latch meansoperatively engageable with said spring to hold said spring in itsenergy stored position during said one stroke, and means movable by saiddisplacing member and engageable with said latch means for releasingsaid latch means to permit the natural recovery characteristic of saiddisplacing member to effect said other stroke.

3. A pump having a fluid displacing member with an intake stroke and adelivery stroke, inlet and outlet valves communicating with said pump,energy storing means acting constantly on said member to effect onestroke, said fluid displacing member having a natural recoverycharacteristic which effects the other stroke, and means movable withthe displacing member and engageable with the energy storing meansduring the said one stroke for rendering said energy storing meansinoperative so as to permit the natural recovery characteristic of saiddisplacing member to effect said other stroke.

4. A pump having a fluid displacing member with an intake and a deliverystroke, inlet and outlet valves communicating with said pump, a springacting thereon to effect one stroke, said fluid displacing member havinga natural recovery characteristic which effects the other stroke, andmeans movable with the displacing member and operatively engageable withsaid spring during said one stroke for releasing said spring so as topermit the natural recovery characteristic of said displacing member toeffect said other stroke.

5. A pump having a fluid displacing member with an intake stroke and adelivery stroke, inlet and outlet valves ,communicating with said pump,a spring acting constantly on said member for effecting one strokethereof, said uid displacing member having a natural recoverycharacteristic which effects the other stroke thereof manually operablemeans engageable with said spring for storing energy in said spring soas to effect said one stroke, and means movable with the displacingmember and operatively engageable with said spring during Said onestroke for releasing said spring so as to permit the natural recoverycharacteristic of said displacing member to effect said other stroke.

6. The pump set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for storing energyin said spring comprises a foot actuated member, and wherein said pumpincludes latch means for holding said manually operable member and saidspring in its energy stored position during said one stroke.

7. A Window cleaning system including in combination, a wiper movableacross the surface of the window, means for spraying liquid in the pathof said Wiper, means for actuating said wiper, a pump for supplying saidspraying means with liquid under pressure, said pump including a liquiddisplacing member having an intake stroke and a delivery stroke, andspring means for effecting the delivery stroke of said pump, said liquiddisplacing mem- 4ber having a natural recovery characteristic foreffecting the intake stroke thereof, a manually operable member forstoring energy in said spring means so as to effect the delivery strokeof said pump, and means operable by said manually operable member duringmovement thereof to store energy in said spring means for initiatingoperation of said wiper actuating means, said last recited means beingautomatically operable by said liquid displacing member during thedelivery stroke thereof for terminating operation of the wiper actuatingmeans.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said pump includes latchmeans operable to hold said spring means in its energy stored positionduring the delivery stroke thereof and means movable by said displacingmember for releasing said latch means to permit the natural recoverycharacteristic of said displacing member to effect the intake stroke.

9. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said manually operablemem-ber comprises a pedal, and wherein the means for initiating andterminating operation of the wiper actuating means includes a Bowdenwire which is operatively connected to and movable by said pedal.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said pump includeslatch means for holding said spring means and said pedal in apredetermined position in which the energy stored in said means isretained, and wherein said liquid displacing member carries a releasemember movable thereby for releasing said latch means during thedelivery stroke thereof.

11. A windshield washer pump unit including, an elastic bulb having anintake stroke and a delivery stroke, inlet and outlet valvescommunicating with the interior of said bulb, a spring acting on saidbulb for effecting the delivery stroke thereof, said bulb having anatural recovery characteristic for effecting the intake stroke, a footactuated member engageable with said spring for storing energy in saidspring to effect the delivery stroke of said bulb, latch meansoperatively engageable with said spring to hold said spring in itsenergy stored position during the delivery stroke of said bulb, and cammeans attached to said bulb and movable therewith, said cam means beingengageable with said latch means upon completion of the delivery strokeof said bulb for releasing said latch means to thereby release saidspring.

12. A windshield washer pump including: a casing, an elastic bulbdisposed in said casing having an intake stroke and a delivery stroke, afoot actuated reciprocable member supported in said casing, a springseat attached to said member, a spring seat attached to said bulb, aspring interposed between said spring seats for effecting the deliverystroke of said bulb upon compression of said spring by said footactuated member so as to store energy therein, a latch lever pivotallymounted in said casing and spring-biased into engagement with the springseat on said member so as to hold said spring in its energy storedposition, inlet and outlet valves communicating with the interior ofsaid bulb, said bulb carried spring seat having a cam surface thereonengageable with said latch lever upon completion of the delivery strokeof said bulb for moving said latch out of engagement with the springseat carried by said member to permit the natural recoverycharacteristic of said bulb to effect the intake stroke thereof.

13. A window cleaning system including, in combination, a wiper movableacross the surface of the window, means for spraying liquid in the pathof said wiper, means for actuating said wiper, a pump for supplying saidspraying means with liquid under pressure, said pump including anelastic bulb having an intake stroke and a delivery stroke, inlet andoutlet valves communicating with the interior of said bulb, spring meansacting on said bulb for effecting the delivery stroke thereof, said bulbhaving a natural recovery characteristic for effecting the intake strokethereof, a foot actuated member for storing energy in said spring meansso as to effect the delivery stroke of said bulb, latch means engageablewith said spring means for holding said spring means in its energystored position during the delivery stroke of said bulb, an elementengageable with said foot actuated member for initiating operation ofsaid wiper actuating means upon movement of said member to store energyin said spring means, and means movable Iby said bulb and operativelyassociated with said latch means for releasing said latch means uponcompletion of the delivery stroke of said bulb for actuating saidelement to terminate operation of the wiper actuating means.

14. A window cleaning system including in combination, a wiper movableacross the surface of the window, means for spraying liquid in the pathof said wiper, means for actuating said wiper, a pump for supplying saidspraying means with liquid under pressure, said pump including a liquiddisplacing member having an intake stroke and a delivery stroke, andspring means for effecting the delivery stroke of said pump, said liquiddisplacing member having a natural recovery characteristic for effectingthe intake stroke thereof, means for storing energy in said spring meansso as to effect the delivery stroke of said pump, and means operable bysaid last recited means during movement thereof to store energy in saidspring means for initiating operation of said wiper actuating means,said means operable by the said last recited means being automaticallyoperable by said liquid displacing member during the delivery strokethereof for terminating operation of the wiper actuating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,117,779 Bulmer Nov. 17, 1914 1,723,909 Alvey Aug. 6, 1929 2,206,814Horton July 2, 1940 2,688,514 Oishei et al. Sept. 7, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 339,518 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1930 1,083,693 France June 30,1954

